Definition

1. Noun (Zoology):

   • Swiftlet: A small seabird, similar to a swallow, with long, pointed wings. It builds nests from its saliva on high cliff faces.
   • Edible bird's nest: The nest of the swiftlet, considered a delicacy. Often used in the shortened form "yến sào."

2. Noun (Zoology):

   • Serin/Canary: A small bird of the finch family, often yellow, white, or green, known for its song and kept as a pet.

3. Noun (Historical/Formal):

   • Banquet/Feast: A large, formal meal, especially one given by a king or emperor in ancient times.

4. Noun (Measure):

   • Ten kilograms: A traditional unit of mass equal to 10 kilograms.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Zoology):
  • Tổ yến được thu hoạch từ các vách đá. (Swiftlet nests are harvested from cliff faces.)
  • Món súp yến rất bổ dưỡng. (Bird's nest soup is very nutritious.)
• Noun (Zoology):
  • Chú yến trong lồng hót rất hay. (The serin in the cage sings very beautifully.)
• Noun (Historical):
  • Nhà vua mở yến đãi các quan. (The king held a banquet to entertain the mandarins.)
• Noun (Measure):
  • Mẹ mua một yến gạo. (Mother bought ten kilograms of rice.)

Advanced Usage

• "yến sào": This is the full term for the edible bird's nest, specifying it as the product ("sào" means nest).
  • Yến sào là món cao lương mỹ vị. (Edible bird's nest is a gourmet delicacy.)
• "dự yến": To attend a banquet.
  • Các đại sứ được mời dự yến. (The ambassadors were invited to attend the banquet.)

Variants and Related Words

• Yến hội (n): A feast, a banquet (emphasizing the gathering).
• Yến tiệc (n): A feast, a banquet (a more general term).

Synonyms

• Swiftlet / Edible bird's nest: For meaning 1.
• Serin / Finch: For meaning 2.
• Banquet / Feast: For meaning 3.
• Ten kilos / Decagram: For meaning 4 (though "decagram" is technical).

Related Idioms

• Yến anh: A poetic term referring to beautiful, elegant women or a couple, derived from the names of two birds (swallow and oriole/serin).
  • Đám cưới tập trung đông đảo các bạn trẻ yến anh. (The wedding gathered a crowd of elegant young friends.)

noun

1. (d-ộng) swallow ten kilogramme